Means for connecting members together

ABSTRACT

In a spreader frame incorporated in container handling equipment a cylindrical boss projects from a boom and passes through an opening in a cross-head. Spaced, torque-taking abutments on each side of the opening engage the ends of a key which extends through a slot in the outer end of the boss and retains the cross-head on the boom.

United States Patent 11 1 Ward 1451 Apr. 24, 1973 MEANS FOR CONNECTING MEMBERS [56] References Cited TOGETHER UNITED STATES PATENTS [75] Invent: P Thomas Ward Lichfield 3,321,221 5/1967 Harris et al. ..287/53 R g 3,154,203 10/1964 Barry ..214/38 [73] Assignee: Rubery, Owe n & C0,, Li it d, D 2,946,617 7/1960 Tantlinger ..294/67 DA laston, Wednesbury, England [22] Filed: Apr. 14, 1971 Primary Examiner-Evon C. Blunk App]. N0.: 134,015

Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 21, 1970 Great Britain ..l8,904/7O US. Cl .294/67 R, 294/81 SF Int. Cl ..B66c 1/00 Field of Search ..294/67 R, 67 D, 67 DA,

294/81 R, 81 SF; 287/53 R, 53 TK, 52.05

Assistant ExaminerJohnny D. Cherry Att0rneyScrivener, Parker, Scrivener and Clarke [57] ABSTRACT In a spreader frame incorporated in container handling equipment a cylindrical boss projects from a boom and passes through an opening in a cross-head. Spaced, torque-taking abutments on each side of the opening engage the ends of a key which extends through a slot in the outer end of the boss and retains the cross-head on the boom.

2 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure MEANS FOR CONNECTING MEMBERS TOGETHER for engagement with the complementary parts on a container.

According to our invention an opening in a first member receives a cylindrical boss projecting from a second member and the first member is retained on the boss by a key passing through a transverse slot in the I boss on the outer side of the first member, the ends of the key being engaged by locating means on the outer face of the first member.

In the primary application of our invention the first and second members are a cross-head and a spreader frame incorporated in container handling equipment.

Although the cross-head is securely held on the spreader frame the relative dimensions of the cooperating parts of the connecting means may be arranged so that the cross-head can rock to a limited extend about the axis of the boss. Also it may be arranged for the cross-head to have a certain amount of freedom in other directions so that twist locks mounted on the ends of the cross-head can be accurately lined up with complementary parts on a container.

An additional resiliant connection may be provided between cross-head and spreader frame to damp the play between the two members.

One embodiment of our invention will now be described with reference tothe accompanying drawing which is a partly exploded and cut away perspective view of the connection between a cross-head and a spreader frame.

The drawing illustrates a boom 1 which can be extended from a spreader frame (not shown). The boom 1 is of box section and a cylindrical tubular member 2 extends through and is welded to an end plate 3 and an internal supporting plate 4 of the boom. A spigot portion or boss 5 projects beyond the end plate 3. A transverse slot 6 is formed in the outer end of the boss 5. An end cap 7 having a corresponding slot 8 fits into the outer end of the boss so that the slots register, and the cap is welded in position.

A cross-head 9 is'formed with an opening of such a diameter as to fit freely over the boss 5 and is retained on the boss by a flat bar or key 11 passed through the registering slots 6 and 8. When in position the ends of the key 11 lie between spaced pairs of abutments or blocks 12 projecting from the outer face of the crosshead 9. Bolts 13 prevent the key 11 from moving transversely through the slots. The fit of the key and registering slots is such as to permit a small amount of relative rotation between cross-head and boom.

On the upper face of the cross-head 9 is welded an upstanding plate 14 to which is secured an plate 15 which lies within a box frame 17 attached to the end plate 3 of the boom 1 to overhang the cross-head 9.

Resilient cushions 18 are mounted by bolts 16 between the box frame 17 and each side of the plate 15. The upper end of the plate 14 passes through a slot 19 in the lower side of the frame 17. The cushions l8 damp movement between boom and cross-head.

e cut out 21 1n the boom 1 15 adapted to receive the operating links for twistlocks at the ends of the cross-head 9.

If the spreader frame is a rigid member or an assembly of fixed length, a spigot or boss 5 will be mounted on each end of it.

While our invention is intended primarily for connecting cross-heads to the ends of a spreader frame in load-handling equipment, it can have other applications where similar connections are required.

I claim:

1. In a spreader frame for handling freight containers, an apertured cross-head connected to the spreader frame by connecting means comprising a cylindrical boss projecting from the spreader frame, the boss extending through the aperture in the cross-head and having an outer end portion extending beyond the outer surface of the cross-head, locating formations on the outer face of the cross-head, and a rigid key extending through a diametrical aperture in the outer end portion of the boss to engage with the locating formations, the arrangement being such as to permit a small amount of relative rotation between the spreader frame and cross-head whereby torque on the cross-head is taken by the spreader frame through the engagement of the key with the locating formations and the cross-head is retained on the spreader frame by the engagement of the key with the edges of the diametrical aperture in the boss.

2. In a spreader frame as in claim 1 including resilient means located between an upstanding projection on the upper surface of the cross-head and the spreader frame, the resilient means damping relative movement between the cross-head and the spreader frame. 

1. In a spreader frame for handling freight containers, an apertured cross-head connected to the spreader frame by connecting means comprising a cylindrical boss projecting from the spreader frame, the boss extending through the aperture in the cross-head and having an outer end portion extending beyond the outer surface of the cross-head, locating formations on the outer face of the cross-head, and a rigid key extending through a diametrical aperture in the outer end portion of the boss to engage with the locating formations, the arrangement being such as to permit a small amount of relative rotation between the spreader frame and cross-head whereby torque on the cross-head is taken by the spreader frame through the engagement of the key with the locating formations and the cross-head is retained on the spreader frame by the engagement of the key with the edges of the diametrical aperture in the boss.
 2. In a spreader frame as in claim 1 including resilient means located between an upstanding projection on the upper surface of the cross-head and the spreader frame, the resilient means damping relative movement between the cross-head and the spreader frame. 